A Rhyl GP surgery has been successful in attracting three trainee doctors to its Clarence Medical Practice.

Clarence House Surgery, Rhyl has been successful in attracting three trainee doctors to its Clarence Medical Practice.

This success sits against a background of difficulties in attracting trainees elsewhere in North Wales.

Ann Jones Assembly Member for the Vale of Clwyd took the opportunity on Friday to visit the practice and meet one of the trainees, Junior Dr. Zain Habib, find out more about what is happening with training at the practice and how they have been able to work effectively with Bangor University to attract new talent.

Assembly Member Ann Jones said, “I’m delighted that Clarence Medical Centre are finding a way in which they can help bring trainee doctors into Rhyl, hopefully when they see how well the area is going in way of the regeneration they will stay here and we will have the benefit of their expertise”.

Trainee Dr. Zain Habib said “I was so impressed with the staff and the training at Glan Clwyd Hospital, as well as the opportunities that were being talked about, like this one here at Clarence Medical practice. I went on to apply for and get one of the available training placements. It’s been a thoroughly enjoyable experience”.

Ann Jones AM meets doctors at Clarence House Surgery, Rhyl

Dr. Simon Dobson who is a GP Trainer at the practice said, “Over the last 6 years, we’ve been developing research and teaching, so much that we’ve been able to host an academic programme together with Glan Clwyd Hospital, Betsi Cadwaladr health board and Bangor University, and that’s going from strength to strength.”

“Thanks to funding from Welsh Government we are now in the great position of accepting an additional four GP trainees in August 2019 in addition to two junior doctors – and with any luck, many of them will remain GPs in North Wales. In the future, we hope to continue this growth.”